Smart Talk

Smart Talk is a daily, live, interactive program featuring conversations with newsmakers and experts in a variety of fields and exploring a wide range of issues and ideas, including the economy, politics, health care, education, culture, and the environment. Smart Talk airs live every week day at 9 a.m. on WITF’s 89.5 and 93.3.

STFriday: small games of chance & Political Junkie Ken Rudin

The state Capitol is buzzing over legislation designed to expand small games of chance – pull-tabs, raffles and other games – into bars and taverns.

Currently only private clubs are allowed to offer this sort of small-time gambling. It’s been that way since the 1980s and they want to keep it that way.

But bar owners say the bill merely levels the playing field.

Legislation that passed the state Senate would funnel the games’ tax revenues into the Commonwealth’s General Fund. But Governor Corbett is joining Senate Democrats in support of language that would use the money to benefit the state’s senior citizens.

Kit Watson

Smart Talk Friday will explore the plan, which could represent the largest expansion of gaming in the state since table games were authorized in 2010.

witf’s Capitol Bureau Chief Mary Wilson talks with Kit Watson, adjutant for the Pennsylvania American Legion. Joining us live on the show will be Amy Christie, director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage Association, which represents bar and tavern owners.

Ken Rudin

Also, Smart Talk Friday welcomes back Political Junkie Ken Rudin. We’ll find out what races he’ll be watching across the country on Election Day, and what it could mean for the Pennsylvania’s 2014 election cycle.

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